


How to handle a bad coach as a parent: 6 tips for effective communication
Wondering how to handle bad behaviour from your child’s coach, such as yelling or demeaning comments? Here are some practical suggestions for how to address it tactfully.

The one sentence that can change an athlete’s life
This simple sentence tells athletes that their coach has their back. It tells them that their coach believes in them.

20 pucks, 960 smiles: How coaches can make practices more fun
For coaches, when it comes to helping young kids love sport and movement, the secret is making playing and practicing fun.

Is competition in sports healthy for kids?
Many parents have asked me if I think competition is healthy for kids. Is it healthy? Is it “toxic”? Does it diminish self-confidence?

Coaching girls? Here are three ways to help them get more out of the game
“Any questions?” This well-meaning phrase, when posed to a group of young female athletes, often results in 10 or more hands shooting up, and you as a coach end up standing there fielding questions like you’ve just entered your own personal press conference. You may be thinking to yourself, “Well that’s just how kids are.” … Continued

Book review: “Lucy Tries Basketball”
She really liked that Jermaine took time to coach the kids about how to play and taught them some basics like dribbling, moving their feet, and shooting. She thought it would be great if it was actually a Raptors player teaching the kids to play, and is hoping that she might get coached by a … Continued

Rethinking school sports teams: here’s a way every kid gets to play
There’s an excitement in the air every time we tell students there’s an upcoming sports tournament. The schoolyard is filled with students in grades four to six practicing during recess to get ready for the tryouts. Typically, there are over 60 students trying out for one team. Most elementary school teams have 15 players on … Continued

Safe sport tips for parents
As parents, we want to give our children every opportunity to succeed and live a life that is healthy, happy, and active. Enrolling our children in sport and physical activity programs provides a multitude of mental, physical, and social benefits. But, on occasion, the benefits can be violated by trusted coaches or volunteers through abusive … Continued

How parents can support the responsible coaching movement
Parents can insist sports clubs train and screen all coaches

Coaching girls in sport: What the research says
From a sporting standpoint, the thing I enjoy most about coaching girls is the fact that they listen. They listen because they want to get it right. Getting it right is important because they want to be socially accepted, and in their early years of participation, social acceptance is their number one reason for getting … Continued

Catch Team Canada in action at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship
World Juniors is from December 26th to January 5th

Learning to love ourselves: Vince Luciani on the legacy of coaching
Learn to love your mind, body, and spirit

New documentary shows creativity is the key to greatness
How does an athlete become great?

Active for Life podcast: Camilla Knight on parents in sport
The expert on youth sport talks about the important role of parents

5 tips for coaching multi-sport kids
Multi-sport helps kids develop multiple skills

Sign up for Active for Life’s newsletter for educators, coaches, and other professionals working with kids
AfL Pro gets sent out twice a year

Offside parents: How one referee is calling out bad sideline behaviour
Referee shows the ugly side of parents and youth sports

Quality sport: The art of creating good activity programs for kids
Quality sport builds more than physical literacy

Iceland is Active for Life’s favourite World Cup team
How Iceland beat the odds and made history

Send an email to the Minister of Sport to keep athletes safe from abuse
Let’s make athlete safety a priority

Yes, we know. Multi-sport is a desirable concept, just not a reality… yet
How to make multi-sport the new normal

New safeguards for young athletes proposed
4 Canadian women speak out about abuse

Creating positive sport experiences for kids with hidden disabilities
5 strategies to enhance sport participation

NBA and USA Basketball promote multi-sport approach for kids
New guidelines for basketball players, parents, and leagues